Best Fight Stick in 2018 – up your fighting game performance with the best arcade fight sticks around

You can play any fighting games with a given console’s default controller, but if you’re passionate about the genre then chances are you’ve thought about buying a fight stick – you know, just like many of the pros use. They’re not necessary for you to be proficient at a game, but they’re a lot easier on the hands.

They also make a very satisfying clacking noise too, and they can be customised so that you have a wholly unique fight stick to bring to events that’ll intimidate your foes. Most fighting games appear on PS4 and so most fight sticks are made with the system in mind, but if you’re an avid fighting games fan then chances are you’ve realised this already!

Mad Catz TE S+ EU for PS4

Just under £100, has 8 buttons rather than 6 so it’s usable on a wider range of fighting games, and a solid build quality that shouldn’t give up on you anytime soon, the TE S+ EU is one of Mad Catz’s finest fight sticks that you can get if you’re on a tight budget. It’s not worth getting if you’re looking to mod the buttons, stick or artwork, but if you’re simply looking to pick up a stick to get to grips with then you can’t go wrong with this as your first one.

A 3m USB cable leaves you with plenty of room to get comfortable whilst gaming, and all of the PS4 mechanics that you’d expect to be there such as start, options and share are all easily located at the top of the stick. As both of Mad Catz’s TE are similar, both also come with a touchpad built-in.

Lioncast Arcade Fight Stick for PS4, Switch and PC

Perhaps if you’re just looking to dabble into the world of arcade fight sticks then this Lioncast fight stick is a decent budget option. It sports a full retro feel, with freely programmable buttons (including two turbo buttons up top) and is made of robust components.

The Lioncast is also versatile, using a simple USB connection so you can connect it to your PS4, PC and even your Switch. Not bad as more fighters are bound to make their way to the Nintendo console over time.

Venom 8-button Arcade Stick for PS4

If £100+ is a bit too much for you right now, then the £69.99 Venom arcade stick officially licensed by Sony will do the trick. It has 8 buttons, a 3m USB cable and it’s made to be small enough so that it’s easy to store away and carry around. It’s easy to mod, but it features no touchpad. You may prefer this stick if you don’t plan to play competitively in any form, but instead, prefer playing against AI.

Qanba Obsidian for PS4 and PC

Are you looking to spend the big bucks? The Qanba Obsidian is, at the time of writing, £188.76 and can be imported from Amazon US. The fight stick has still yet to be released in the UK, but this is one of the most expensive and revered fight sticks on the market right now. Incorporating well-praised Sanwa buttons on its firm frame and moving all generally unused buttons shoved onto the side of the stick so that they don’t get in the way of the buttons you’ll often be using, the Qanba Obsidian is built with the pro player in mind.

LED lighting is used and reacts to vibrations, inputs or can be turned on and off, and you’re able to custom mod this as you see fit. The Qanba Obsidian is longer than many other fight sticks, so those worried that a smaller fight stick may not fit on their lap comfortably can rest easy with this one. The main downside to this one is that if you open it to mod it, you’ll be voiding the warranty – but it does have a headphone jack!

Qanba Dragon

If you’re looking for the very definition of premium, then the Qanba Dragon will not disappoint. It’ll cost you a pretty penny at £272.44, but its aluminium chassis and plexiglass panel means that it’ll handle a rougher player’s hands. As with the Obsidian, this also features slick LED lights and it’s easy to mod. This one also features a headphone jack! Many fight sticks don’t, sadly, and it’s a big selling point for many. Praised for its sturdy build and highly responsive buttons, the Qanba Dragon sells itself at a high price simply because it’s worth it.

Stock is very limited in the UK so it can sometimes be hard to track down. If you’re interested you’ll want to snap this one up immediately.

Regardless of what sort of stick you’re in the market for, there’s something for everyone. It can be difficult to walk into the world of fight sticks for the first time, especially as there are so many manufacturers, prices and features to get to grips with, but rest assured that the above are some of the best around at a variety of prices. The next challenge is getting used to using a fight stick, but I can’t help you with that one. Good luck!

All prices correct at the time of publishing. Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. For more information, go here.

You can play any fighting games with a given console’s default controller, but if you’re passionate about the genre then chances are you’ve thought about buying a fight stick – you know, just like many of the pros use. They’re not necessary for you to be proficient at a game, but they’re a lot easier on the hands.

If you fancy yourself the king of fighters, you’re definitely going to want to invest in a solidly built arcade fight stick to play fighting games with. However, even though these things are the best way to be competitive and stay an expert, they also happen to be expensive. However, right now, this Mad Catz SFV Alpha stick is down to £34.99, its lowest price yet.